Cops crack whip on NBFC over CCTVs

A week after the Delhi Police issued regulatory orders and made it mandatory for all non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) operating in the National Capital to take adequate security measures, a leading NBFC was prosecuted on Tuesday for contravening the order.

Action was taken against a Mayapuri Community Center-based finance company in west Delhi dealing mainly in gold after a surprise visit by a team from the Mayapuri police station revealed that CCTV cameras installed at the company were not working.

"Notices were already served to all NBFCs in which they were strictly told that action would be taken against them if they were found violating the regulation. And since the company was found violating the prohibitory orders, a case under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC was registered against the it. The branch manager was arrested and later released on bail," said V Renganathan, additional commissioner of police (west).

According to Renganathan, a special drive was launched to ensure that the NBFCs take adequate security measures to prevent untoward incidents at their establishments.

"The companies were directed to take appropriate security measures like installation of CCTV with recording facility of 30 days and continuous monitoring by staff," Renganathan added.

In the regulatory orders issued by the assistant commissioners of police (ACPs), the NBFCs were also asked to maintain database of all employees, security guards, cab drivers and contractual workers employed with them.

They were directed to maintain digital record of all the visitors with their photo identity and deploy armed security guards at the main entry of the premises.

"We made it mandatory for NBFCs to deploy armed security guards with employees who transport huge cash/gold/jewellery from one place to another. Vehicles being used for transportation of cash or precious metal must not be without GPS devices. They have been asked not to transport such things after sunset," said a senior police officer.